Hey Everyone!
OK, so it's been a while. I promise that I'll try to write a little more often as once a month is a little bit silly if I am to keep in touch on this thing. I'm actually thinking of starting to write a book soon, about my adventures on the road. Too many people have been suggesting that I do that and it does feel like the right time to start. There's just too many crazy experiences to write about and I'm scared that I'm going to forget about all of them if I don't write this shit down soon.
I'm currently writing to you from St. John's Newfoundland where I am staying for a few days with my good friend Evelyn and her boyfriend Peter. St. John's is such a unique place and you can just feel the long history of this city in each step you take. This place has a lot of nightlife for a city of it's kind. Music everywhere and definitely my kind of place!
Getting here was a real experience. It took a 9 hour bus ride from Halifax to Sydney, then an 8 hour overnight ferry to the other side of Newfoundland and then an 11 hour drive from a very kind Newfoundland trucker to St. John's. I didn't have enough money for the bus trip so you can imagine how grateful I was when all worked out! Apparently my Greyhound "Discovery Canada" bus pass does not include Newfoundland!!! Hummm....not sure what I think about that one as my pass includes all of the major destinations in the US. I think I've made my point. Well now I'm here and loving every minute of it. Only one word to describe Newfoundland: sublime. I think every Canadian should visit Newfoundland at least once in their lifetime as there's no other place in Canada quite like it. I feel very fortunate to be here.
The tour has been a serious whirlwind. Just amazingly fun in every way and I am learning so much about life, about the way people live, about myself, about music and so much more. I think the touring lifestyle was made for people like me. I thrive on the excitement of meeting new people and seeing new places and just love performing so much. People seem to be really digging the new EP and are excited about the looping pedal as well.
The trip across the country on the Greyhound bus was crazy long. Three days on that damn bus. I had the most swollen ankles once I got to Toronto. Never experienced that before so now I know to be a bit more careful next time around. Toronto was great. I got to hang out with the In Support of Living folks, this awesome musical collective from Toronto that I recorded some new flute tracks for a few months back in Vancouver. I even got to perform a show with them at the Silver Dollar which was a real musical highlight. I've missed those guys so it was really nice to hang out with them in the Annex. While in Toronto, I got to meet up with many missed friends and family members. I even got to spend some time at home on Toronto Island with my Mom and Sister. I performed a show at the Rectory Cafe with Peter Webb which was a blast. I've come a long way since I last performed in Toronto and it felt good to be sharing that.
What I mostly experienced during my time in Toronto was this huge feeling of nostalgia for home as I used to remember it. The special magic that is such a huge part of Toronto can be so intoxicating. I miss Toronto very much as it is a very exciting place to be but I also feel the need to be away from it as well. It can get a tad overwhelming and the pollution makes breathing for my asthmatic lungs not so easy. Visiting is just fine by me although I wish I could transfer all those amazing bands, family members and friends off to Victoria instead. There's just something about Toronto that I will always miss. I'm going to be back there for a few weeks at the end of October to hang out with the In Support of Living folks some more and have a looping pedal lesson with Owen of Final Fantasy. He finishes his tour opening for Arcade Fire at the beginning of November and we're going to meet up after that for some dinner and a lesson. Can't wait as I know that he will have lots to show me in regards to how he uses his looping pedal and how he writes for it. I'm already looking forward to it.
Ottawa was a serious whirlwind. With four shows, teaching private flute lessons, session recording and catching up with old friends, I barely had enough time to eat or sleep! Sounds like a complaint but it actually warmed my heart to experience. It was great to play with so many fine Ottawa folks who I've missed very much. I performed with Marc Charron, Peter Webb, Neil Gerster, Lindsay Ferguson, Johnny Eden, Andrea Simms-Karp, Souljazz Orchestra, Abigail Lapell and Mike Yates. All were amazing and I had such a beautiful time. Catching up with old friends was a hoot too and I even managed to fit in a bit of time to walk around the city as well. I'll be back in Ottawa again for the OCFF Conference in October but it will be a very short visit. I may be playing at the Manx with Lindsay Ferguson on Oct 15th so I'll keep everyone posted.
Montreal. Oh Montreal. Can't say enough good things about Montreal. I love it in every way and can't wait to live there for a bit. Even pondering on being based out west for the winter months and in Montreal for the summer months. Anyone who's been to Montreal truly understands my dilemma. That place is so hopping with culture in every way, especially the indie world which I love so much. From amazing food from all cultures right at your fingertips to the special communities of Mile End and the Plateau, to the tam tam Sundays on Mont Royal or the fun nights hanging out in the indie clubs on St. Laurent...It just rocks in every way. I wrote four new songs while staying in Abigail Lapell's funky apartment in Mile End, played a few fun shows (ask me about the Zeke's experience sometime), met so many amazing artists and had a wonderful time hanging out at the Osheaga Music Festival. I fit in a guest fluter appearance with Montreal's Shoot the Moon at Casa del Popolo, played a great show with Abigail Lapell and Daniel Khan (from Berlin) at Divan Orange where we partied it up with the ever so talented and outrageously fun Geoff Berner. I played a house concert at the amazing Elizabeth Bruce's place. Just amazing times. Can't wait to get back there. I'll be visiting Montreal twice more on this tour to do lots of recording and performing as well as checking out Pop Montreal.
And then there's out east. Pics coming soon too...
I'll save that for next time though....So much to catch up on!
Hugs and Smiles from Newfoundland,
Love Rozalind
